The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts

With 500 perplexing questions to BAMBOOZLE your friends!

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Pub Date 25 May 2021 | Archive Date 10 Jun 2021

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Description

Test your knowledge with 500 perplexing questions to bamboozle and delight trivia buffs both young and old with The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts.

How many kinds of germs live in your bellybutton? Which creature takes a three-year-long nap? If someone asked you to spare a zeptosecond, how long would that be? Has the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever been straight? And what exactly happens to an astronaut’s dirty laundry?

The dazzling facts are accompanied by bright, whimsical illustrations and the questions are organized into 10 chapters: Human Body, Science and Technology, Animals, Natural World, Space, Mindbending Stuff, History, Customs and Culture, Our World, and Arts and Entertainment.

Written in simple, easy-to-understand language by author Jane Wilsher, this stunning visual encyclopedia is ideal for fact-loving kids and a perfect excuse to bring the family together for some top trivia fun.
Test your knowledge with 500 perplexing questions to bamboozle and delight trivia buffs both young and old with The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts.

How many kinds of germs live in your...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780711256262
PRICE $27.99 (USD)
PAGES 112

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)

Average rating from 38 members


Featured Reviews

The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts is a wonderful child-friendly book full of all the needless information you could ever want. The facts and illustrations are engaging for both children and adults! Some of the facts really are so unbelievable children will want to run around telling everyone! Be forewarned parents!

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Now I want to witness a moonbow!

A wonderful book of encyclopaedia for kids!

Love the presentation with facts written in short, fun lines.

The question and answer format is fun to read.

The illustrations are awesome.

The book covers facts on the human body, science and technology, animals, nature, history, customs and cultures, arts and entertainment, the world in general, space, and more on the human mind

Some facts are mind-boggling for us adults too.

Thank you, authors and the publisher, for the advance reading copy.

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A quick-fire question and answer-styled factoid compendium for the young, that can fascinate many of many an age. I can't say I fell for the "what is the...?" question followed by the bit we're here for structure of the text, partly as sometimes there was a bonus bit of trivia in the bulk of proceedings. Did you know we generally use one nostril when breathing at a time, because they take it in shifts? That wasn't directly from one of the needless questions, but was a bonus. Did you know the source of the Northern lights in some Norse myths? Thank the bonus data about a god of skiing.

I have to say as well I found the artwork and design here really, really unattractive, so add that to the structure I disagreed with and we have a failure on our hands, no? Well, no – for the simple reason this is succeeding in doing just what it wants to do. It is as addictive as any good trivia/factoid/list-of-partly-baseless-claims book you can think of, and despite the flaws it has a strong reason to be on your wishlist.

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An encyclopedia used to be the norm in every house during my childhood. But with time, the Internet and especially Google, children hardly ever refer to encyclopedias. However, with a book as eye-popping and mind-boggling as “The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts”, there can be no doubt that children will enjoy good old encyclopedias again. .

This is a collection of fabulous trivia on various topics such as the human body, science, space, animals and many more. The book is structured in a way that it can be opened to any page at random and read.
The facts mentioned are really either interesting or funny or both! Many of the facts will be unknown even to adults. I did find it hilarious that sheer korma was called ‘pasta’ and the rakhi called a ‘friendship bracelet’. Well, whatever works for international audiences, but for us the pasta and friendship bracelet are nothing in value compared to the korma and the rakhi. What makes the book even better is its question-answer format. With today’s short attention spans, this format works the best when it comes to attracting children towards nonfiction. Some of the questions are framed in a silly way but the answers they contain saves them from being a misfit in the book. There are a couple of riddles and brainteasers also included in the book. While they add to the fun, I didn’t like the idea of riddles being mixed along with factual trivia. The headless horseman trivia might be scary for some young readers.
All my complaints, as you see, are minuscule ones. The enjoyment I got from the book far exceeded the issues. So it’s a definite yes in terms of recommendation.
I didn’t enjoy the illustrations as much as I did the book. They are bright and colourful but they don’t suit the book well. As the content is written in a very light-hearted way, it would have been better to have quirkier or funnier sketches.
Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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This was super cute! I loved the art and the way the facts were presented in the form of questions and answers. Most were very basic, but that was expected since this is a children's book after all

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I loved showing this book to my son on the iPad, he's 3.5 so probably a fair bit younger than the target audience but nevertheless, he loved all the interesting facts and imagery. I will definitely purchase the printed book as I really enjoyed reading it myself too, it started some incredible discussions and was really fun! It's presented beautifully and feels a bit more unique than the other fact books we've bought in the past.

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I get so many TMIs while reading this encyclopedia! The illustration is so so cute and interesting! Even as an adult, I still find encyclopedias are so so so interesting, and reading them means new more information!

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A good educational book , structured in a question to answer format..with short to the point answers.. this works in retaining crucial information..
There are various topics and they are clearly divided so one can access any topic they desire to read .
Some facts even as we adults aren't aware of.. hence this book will be perfect for a child s library!!
The only drawback for me were the illustrations which went with the text..at some places it didn't quite match and could have been better!!
Thank you Netgalley and Quatro publishing group for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Absolutely brilliant book not just for kids but for adults too! In our home school we have been looking at these facts with my 12 year old and I have learned some amazing facts!
Highly recommend for both children and adults, for home schooling, fun, school, any fact loving kids..everyone!

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Brilliant! This book would have driven me mad as a child, as my brother would have delighted in sharing every new piece of information, asking us the questions we couldn't answer and loving every minute of our frustration! As an adult, I can see how very popular this will be in the classroom. I say 'will' because this one is going straight on the shopping list. It is perfect for sharing with a small group, filling time at the end of a lesson or giving to a child who just needs a bit of quiet and a distraction. I love the way that the information isn't overwhelming and answers the questions succinctly but without seeming condescending and the small chunks make it accessible for children who struggle with longer text, again though, without seeming too young. I know the children will love it.

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THIS IS IT .. this is what I was hoping would bless young minds of this year. The book is cleaned, polished, easily understaood, engaging and beautifully illustrated. I loved how it was categorized and then in that category is was questions and answers like trivia or a pop quiz. this needs to be in your childs stocking for xmas or going back to school bag....

did u know a snail can sleep for 3 years and they have 14000 teeth located on their toungue!!
did you know 1 tree can make 17000 pencils?
did you know it takes 10 minutes for a rocket ship to reach space from earth!

if you didnt.. but you were intrigued you need this book~!

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I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a charming, witty, and interesting book of trivia for children! I have a secret fondness for trivia books, though I typically read those geared for all ages. This is obviously meant for children but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The illustrations were charming, the way the facts were presented was varied enough to not be repetitive and I found the content fascinating.

Also, ummmm why have I never seen a moonbow??

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This is a fun fact and trivia book for kids or for families to enjoy together on a long car trip or a rainy day. It's in a Q&A format, has 500 questions, and is split into different categories such as the human body, animals, and space. There are even a few brainteasers thrown in the mix. Some of the questions are from an evolutionist standpoint versus a creationist standpoint.

It did have a few big words for little kids (an example being 'compulsory') but that is stated on the cover, so it's to be expected. Plus there's a glossary in the back of the book to help out. It's a very educational book and would keep a curious child busy for hours.

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Trivia in the best possible Q/A format and with fun illustrations by Jane Wilsher and Louise Lockhart ! Here is a sampling of topics and questions:
The human body (which sense is fastest?), Science/tech (can cars be powered by coconuts?), Animals (how do bats sleep?), Nature (what color is snow?), Space/space exploration (what does space smell like?), Games for the mind (which color makes you hungry?), World history (who sent secret messages in food), Customs and cultures (who worshipped the onion?), Our world (which country has an airport shaped like a dragon?), Arts and entertainment (what happens when you listen to music?), and more! A grand book for all ages to share (and maybe read together?)!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

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This book would make a great gift for children who love facts. It is broken into different sections and the questions/answers are mostly lesser known. It is a great place to start and then dive deeper into the facts. Many of the facts are a little on the crude side, but would appeal to kids.

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My children are at the age where they are obsessed with trivia books. "Hey, mom! Did you know that.....?" all day long. So it was fun to pick up this fun trivia book and turn the tables on them for a change. Then, of course, I let them read it for themselves, too. There is more potty-related facts in this book that you might expect, but honestly, that's a selling point for my children. :) There are also plenty of facts about animals, technology, space, history, and more. The illustrationsin this book are colorful and entertaining and I think it would make a great addition to any classroom or home library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of this book for review.

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The illustrations in this book are amazing and really pop out at the reader. I enjoyed reading through here and seeing what new and exciting thing is on each page.

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Adorable trivia book for young readers -- my non-fiction reader tore through it quickly and loved sharing everything that she learned with us.

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Here are my pros and cons for The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts:

Pros
1. I liked the format. Each section contains short question and answer blurbs and you can read them in order, out of order, or in whatever way you want.
2. There are a lot of mini-illustrations throughout the book that support some of the individual questions/answers. Most of them are cute and/or funny.
3. The information is written is language that is easy to understand.
4. This book could be fun on family road trips and it might result in some interesting discussions!
5. There is a glossary and an index at the back of the book.

Cons
1. There are a significant amount of potty humor facts about burping, butts, flatulence, snot, poop, etc. This may not be a con for some, but I thought I’d at least mention it here.
2. Not everything presented in the book is a fact. Some are suppositions, estimates, and simply what is believed to be true.
3. Some of the illustrations are a little strange. For those who might care, there is at least one illustration of a bare butt.

Summary
I actively sought out books like this when I was a kid. I loved learning random trivia about various things and this book presents that kind of information in a fun, readable way. If your child is like I was, they’ll enjoy reading this.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for a free eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

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Children will love The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts. It is an illustrated compendium of a huge array of facts and records. Sections are organized by topic with a question for each interesting fact. This will be a fun resource for kids in upper elementary school.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

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I like the cover of this book with its hints of some of the topics that will be found inside. The facts are divided into a number of categories. These include Human Body; Science and Tech; Animals; Natural World; Space; Mindbending Stuff; History; Customs and Cultures; Our World; Arts and Entertainment; and Jargon Buster.

This book can be read in any order or just by opening a page at random. It could be fun to read alone or to read with others. However a child chooses to look at this book, they will find a lot to fascinate them. Just some of the questions include:

How old were you when your fingerprints developed?

What’s a borygmus?

Which British scientist suffered from seasickness?

What year was the first email sent?

Which creatures can nap for three years?

Were there any women pirates?

What is one of the oldest musical instruments? and so many, many more.

This book seems perfect as a gift for a summer read. Give it to a child you know.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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I love books of facts.
I especially like them for reluctant readers because although this might be a substantial book, 112 pages, it’s broken up into lots of small bite size bits of reading, totalling 500 questions and answers.
This one is broken up into sections
Human Body
Science & Tech
Animals
Natural World
Space
Mindbending Stuff
History
Customs & Cultures
Our World
Arts & Entertainment
Jargon Buster (*Jargon buster intrigued me, turns out it is a glossary, which is very handy.)

It covers serious topics/questions, like this:
Q: How much rain forest is cut down every second?
A: A patch the size of a soccer field

To more obscure, humorous questions.
Q: Which animal poops in cubes?
A: The wombat. Scientists think the poop is pushed into cube shapes by grooves in its intestine. * I actually knew this one.

One of the funniest question to me was, What happened before the TV remote control? That makes me feel old!!

It’s a highly illustrated text, and this adds to its appeal.

I can imagine this book getting a workout in homes, as the enthusiastic readers ask the question to anyone who will listen...

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This was an interesting book that I enjoyed. This book is divided into different sections like the human body, technology, animals etc. Each section contains many interesting and intriguing questions accompanied by few illustrations. The answers are told in a humorous way. I am sure children will learn a lot from this book.

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Perfect book for growing minds!

The book is filled with facts ranging in 10 different subjects: the human body, science & technology, animals, natural world, space, mindbending stuff, history, customs & cultures, our world, and arts & entertainment. Each section has a variety of questions with short answers that kids will easily understand. Unlike other similar books, this one is enjoyable for adults as well. I'm 32 and I learned a lot of facts from this book!

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This books has lots of fun facts that older kids enjoy reading and sharing about. The illustrations are interesting also. Would recommend!

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This book is a treasure! It is FULL of incredible and interesting facts. The illustrations are lovely. My children and I loved it! It is one we will return to again and again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

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'The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts' by Jane Wilsher was *The Perfect* read for my inquisitive, 8 year old son. It is beautifully illustrated and filled to the brim with fun and crazy facts.

Did you know a melted chocolate bar is what gave way to the invention of the microwave?

Or that snow isn't white? It's colorless. It reflects all colors which makes it look white.

And speaking of colors... Did you know that most people can see about 10 million??

This was such a fun thing to read WITH both my boys, but also entertaining for my oldest to read on his own or with his best friend.

What's most wonderful about this book is that you can pick it up and put it down at whim. As the intro to the book says, "There is no right way to read [this book]."

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books (one of my very favorite publishers for kids) for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. Solid 5 star read - I loved it so much I bought myself a copy.

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This book contains trivia that kids will love! As an adult, I learned several new factoids reading this book. The facts cover areas like science, nature, cultures, art, and history.

There's a glossary at the back with jargon that kids might not be familiar with, so the book can also be used as a vocabulary-builder.

Recommended for young readers who enjoy fun facts and trivia.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- SO fun!

Honestly, this book was just SO much fun! First off, it is visually pleasing. Colorful, and full of delightful graphics. Broken down into several chapters (HUMAN BODY, SCIENCE + TECH, ANIMALS, NATURAL WORLD, SPACE, MINDBENDING STUFF, HISTORY, CUSTOMS + CULTURES, OUR WORLD, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT, JARGON BUSTER). Each chapter is packed full of interesting tidbits and facts that will keep both young and old entertained. I can't recommend this one enough! 🙌🏻

**ARC Via NetGalley**

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